Tirupati, located in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district and home to the largest urban local body (ULB), has secured the 8th position among the cleanest cities with a population of over 1 lakh in the Swachh Survekshan 2023 rankings.
Additionally, Tirupati has achieved a 5-star Garbage Free City (GFC) and Water plus rating, establishing itself as the cleanest State capital in the nation, according to a press statement from the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
The city, which generates approximately 115 TPD of wet waste, 15 TPD of food waste, 61 TPD of dry waste and recyclables, 1 TPD of domestic hazardous waste, and 2 TPD of plastic waste, along with an additional 25 tonnes per day of construction and demolition waste, has prioritized robust waste management.
All waste collected undergoes scientific processing at the respective waste processing and management facilities, as stated by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The Tirupati Municipal Corporation has a team of nearly 1,000 sanitation workers dedicated to ensuring sanitation services.
The city has achieved 100 per cent door-to-door waste collection, covering every gate by providing essential infrastructure, including Ghanta Gaddis or auto tippers equipped with blue, green, and red compartments for segregating plastic and non-plastic waste.
An Online Waste Management System (OWMS) with RFID technology is employed for real-time door-to-door waste collection tracking. This, along with continuous monitoring and dedicated sanitation efforts, has ensured a successful 100 per cent collection rate from all gates. Additionally, with 238 identified transfer points, the city allocates 57 vehicles for secondary collection.
Decentralized waste processing in Tirupati eases the burden on centralized plants, reducing their workload and transportation costs.
The focus is on processing wet waste in markets and gardens where significant quantities of organic waste are generated. The city has 6 decentralized waste processing facilities located at 3 major markets and 3 gardens.
Furthermore, the city has installed 3 Bio Chest machines at three different locations. Tirupati Municipal Corporation has identified and classified 27 bulk waste generators producing over 100 Kgs daily and 60 generators producing 50-100 Kgs daily.
Tirupati produces around 60 tons of dry waste and 1 ton of domestic hazardous waste daily. The centralized facility situated within the integrated waste management facility at Thukivakam systematically segregates waste into recyclable and non-recyclable items. Recyclable materials are sold to relevant recycling entities, while others are directed to RDF or undergo co-processing in cement factories’ kilns.
To address the daily generation of 20-25 tons of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, Tirupati Municipal Corporation partnered with Pro Enviro Solutions to establish a C&D waste management facility with a 60-ton capacity in Thukivakam. After the processing of waste, the processed materials are utilized as raw materials for manufacturing kerb stones, tiles, paver blocks, etc., and are further used by the Municipal Corporation for developmental works in footpaths, roadside, parks, etc.
The Ramapuram dumpsite in Tirupati, previously burdened with 2 lakh tonnes of waste, has now been completely remediated, and an additional 25.65 acres of land have been reclaimed.
Tirupati’s commitment to effective waste management, heightened citizen awareness, and a vision for inclusive sanitation positions it as a pioneering city in the Swachhata initiative.
